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      Welcome to the ESL Student Resource Center.

      Find courses and support to help you improve your English for school, work, and everyday life.

      Whether you are just beginning to learn English or continuing to build your skills, you are in the right place.

      How to Use This Hub: Start with the Preassessment if you’re unsure, begin your course, and return here anytime for extra practice and support.

      Welcome to the ESL Student Resource Center Hub. This space is designed to support you as you build strong English language skills for everyday, academic, and professional communication.

      Learning English can help you express your ideas more clearly, participate confidently in conversations, and succeed in school or the workplace.

      Not sure which course to start with?
      Take our short ESL Preassessments (from the tab at the top) to find the best course level for you. It only takes a few minutes and will help you choose confidently.
      Take the Preassessment

      Skills & Goals

      Through Saylor Academy’s ESL course sequence, you will develop key skills in:

      • reading comprehension
      • grammar and sentence structure
      • writing in Standard American English
      • vocabulary development

      Our courses provide guided practice and support for learners at every stage, from beginner to advanced.

      No matter your starting level, this hub is here to help you strengthen your English skills and reach your learning goals.

      Course Levels

      CEFR Alignment
      Saylor Academy’s ESL courses are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), an internationally recognized standard for language learning and proficiency.

      Each course corresponds to a CEFR level:

      Course CEFR Level Description
      ESL001 A2 Beginner
      ESL002 B1 Intermediate
      ESL003 B2 Upper-Intermediate
      ESL004 C1 Advanced
      ESL005 C2 Proficient/Advanced Mastery

      No matter your starting level, this hub is here to help you strengthen your English skills and reach your learning goals.

      Need Help?

      Check your technology:
      Technical requirements for taking Saylor Academy courses are available at: Technical Requirements | Saylor Academy

      If you need technical help, visit the Student Support page: Student Support

      Technical support How to reset a password Who to contact at Saylor

  • Preassessment / ESL Courses

    • Home Preassessment Courses Resources Community

      Find the Right ESL Course Level

      Choosing the right course level will help you learn more comfortably, make steady progress, and build confidence. Below, you can take a short preassessment quiz for each level. These quizzes are designed to help you decide where to begin in the Saylor Academy ESL course sequence.

      Course Levels

      ESL001 A2

      Beginner

      You can understand and use simple English for everyday situations, such as introducing yourself, shopping, or asking basic questions.

      Take Quiz Open Course
      Welcome to the ESL001 Preassessment Quiz

      This short quiz is designed to help you understand whether ESL001 is the right starting level for you. The preassessment includes 20 questions based on the four main learning objectives in this course.

      Learning Objectives for ESL001

      • Use the 8 parts of speech to create basic sentences that follow basic word order
      • Apply basic comprehension strategies to non-fiction texts
      • Select vocabulary development strategies to recognize and collect Standard American English terms commonly used in academic contexts
      • Generate short, cohesive, basic descriptions of routine job- or academic-related activities in correct sentence order

      What Happens After You Complete the Quiz?

      After you finish the quiz, you will receive an email with your results. Your results will show:

      • Which learning objectives you have already mastered
      • Which objectives you may need more practice with

      Each learning objective includes 5 questions. If you answer at least 3 out of 5 correctly, you have demonstrated readiness for that objective.

      What Should You Do Next?

      • If you pass all four objectives, you may be ready to begin the next course level. You can choose to take the preassessment for ESL002 to see if it is a better fit.
      • If you need more practice in one or more areas, ESL001 is likely a good place to start.

      ESL002 B1

      Intermediate

      You can communicate in common daily and workplace situations and understand the main idea of clear spoken or written English.

      Take Quiz Open Course
      Welcome to the ESL002 Preassessment Quiz

      This short quiz is designed to help you understand whether ESL002 is the right starting level for you. The preassessment includes 20 questions based on the four main learning objectives in this course.

      Learning Objectives for ESL002

      • Use the present and past tense in simple statements about common activities
      • Apply basic comprehension strategies to understand short narrative or descriptive passages
      • Use vocabulary strategies to enlarge Standard American English vocabulary
      • Write short narrative paragraphs on a familiar topic describing daily activities or past events

      What Happens After You Complete the Quiz?

      After you finish the quiz, you will receive an email with your results. Your results will show:

      • Which learning objectives you have already mastered
      • Which objectives you may need more practice with

      Each learning objective includes 5 questions. If you answer at least 3 out of 5 correctly, you have demonstrated readiness for that objective.

      What Should You Do Next?

      • If you pass all four objectives, you may be ready to begin the next course level. You can choose to take the preassessment for ESL003 to see if it is a better fit.
      • If you need more practice in one or more areas, ESL002 is likely a good place to start.

      ESL003 B2

      Upper-Intermediate

      You can understand more complex texts and conversations and express your ideas more clearly and confidently in English.

      Take Quiz Open Course
      Welcome to the ESL003 Preassessment Quiz

      This short quiz is designed to help you understand whether ESL003 is the right starting level for you. The preassessment includes 20 questions based on the four main learning objectives in this course.

      Learning Objectives for ESL003

      • Use subject/verb agreement and tense consistency rules in indicative sentences and paragraphs
      • Apply comprehension strategies to short articles on contemporary issues
      • Use strategies to identify vocabulary for appropriate and clear expression
      • Write a short opinion essay

      What Happens After You Complete the Quiz?

      After you finish the quiz, you will receive an email with your results. Your results will show:

      • Which learning objectives you have already mastered
      • Which objectives you may need more practice with

      Each learning objective includes 5 questions. If you answer at least 3 out of 5 correctly, you have demonstrated readiness for that objective.

      What Should You Do Next?

      • If you pass all four objectives, you may be ready to begin the next course level. You can choose to take the preassessment for ESL004 to see if it is a better fit.
      • If you need more practice in one or more areas, ESL003 is likely a good place to start.

      ESL004 C1

      Advanced

      You can use English effectively for academic and professional communication, including detailed reading, writing, and discussion.

      Take Quiz Open Course
      Welcome to the ESL004 Preassessment Quiz

      This short quiz is designed to help you understand whether ESL004 is the right starting level for you. The preassessment includes 20 questions based on the four main learning objectives in this course.

      Learning Objectives for ESL004

      • Punctuate different types of sentences correctly to enhance readability and clarity
      • Use critical reading strategies to interact with short academic texts
      • Use appropriate strategies for developing academic and specialized vocabulary in English
      • Explain the role of reliable information sources for academic writing

      What Happens After You Complete the Quiz?

      After you finish the quiz, you will receive an email with your results. Your results will show:

      • Which learning objectives you have already mastered
      • Which objectives you may need more practice with

      Each learning objective includes 5 questions. If you answer at least 3 out of 5 correctly, you have demonstrated readiness for that objective.

      What Should You Do Next?

      • If you pass all four objectives, you may be ready to begin the next course level. You can choose to take the preassessment for ESL005 to see if it is a better fit.
      • If you need more practice in one or more areas, ESL004 is likely a good place to start.

      ESL005 C2

      Proficiency

      You can understand and express virtually everything in English with ease, fluency, and precision in both spoken and written form.

      Take Quiz Open Course
      Welcome to the ESL005 Preassessment Quiz

      This short quiz is designed to help you understand whether ESL005 is the right starting level for you. The preassessment includes 15 questions based on the three main learning objectives in this course.

      Learning Objectives for ESL005

      • Explain features and uses of basic business correspondence genres
      • Use appropriate strategies for professional communication in English business contexts
      • Apply business-specific etiquette to write polite, error-free business emails

      What Happens After You Complete the Quiz?

      After you finish the quiz, you will receive an email with your results. Your results will show:

      • Which learning objectives you have already mastered
      • Which objectives you may need more practice with

      Each learning objective includes 5 questions. If you answer at least 3 out of 5 correctly, you have demonstrated readiness for that objective.

      What Should You Do Next?

      • If you pass all three objectives, you may be ready to complete the ESL005 course.
      • If you need more practice in one or more areas, ESL005 is likely a good place to start.

      🤔 Not Sure Where to Begin?

      If you are unsure, you have two good options:

      1. Start with ESL001, the beginner level
      2. Take the quiz for the level you think is closest, and adjust based on your results

      Wherever you begin, you can move to a different level at any time. The goal is to start in the course that feels right for you.

      🎓 ESL Specialization Certificate

      If you are seeking an ESL Specialization certificate, you will still need to pass the Final Exam for each ESL course — passing the pre-assessment is not enough.

      If you pass a pre-assessment, you can go to the related course and attempt the final exam to earn credit toward your ESL Specialization Certificate.

      🎓 View the ESL Specialization Program

  • Resources

    • Home Preassessment Courses Resources Community

      ESL Learning Resources

      Here are some resources you can use to help you practice your English. You do not need to use all of these resources. This page is designed to help you choose a few tools that match your English level and goals.

      How to Use This Page

      Start small. Choose one or two resources and practice regularly. You can always come back and try something new later.

      Beginner Tip

      Try practicing English for 15–20 minutes a day. Small steps will help you improve quickly.

      ESL Student FAQ

      Find answers to common questions about ESL courses, learning tips, and how to get help.

      Open the ESL Student FAQ

      Recommended First Picks

      If you are new to learning English, start with these simple and helpful resources (Best for A2–B1).

      British Council LearnEnglish

      Free lessons in grammar, vocabulary, reading, and listening. Easy to follow and made for ESL learners.

      Visit

      News in Levels

      Short news stories written in simple English. Great for reading practice every day.

      Visit

      Duolingo

      A fun and easy way to practice vocabulary and grammar for a few minutes each day.

      Visit

      ELLLO Listening Practice

      Short listening activities with transcripts to help you understand spoken English.

      Visit

      Quizlet Vocabulary Flashcards

      Practice new words with flashcards and games.

      Visit

      Resources by CEFR Level

      Below are recommended tools based on your English level. Each level includes the best types of practice for that stage.

      You can understand simple sentences and everyday English.

      Focus Areas

      Basic vocabulary, simple grammar, short reading and listening practice.

      British Council LearnEnglish

      Easy grammar and vocabulary practice.

      learnenglish.britishcouncil.org

      Duolingo

      Daily beginner English practice.

      duolingo.com

      ELLLO (Easy Listening)

      Short listening clips with transcripts.

      elllo.org

      Quizlet Flashcards

      Learn common everyday words.

      quizlet.com

      You can communicate in many everyday situations and understand simple texts.

      Focus Areas

      Stronger sentence writing, more vocabulary, longer listening and reading.

      News in Levels (Level 2)

      Reading practice with new vocabulary.

      newsinlevels.com

      Perfect English Grammar

      Clear grammar lessons and exercises.

      perfect-english-grammar.com

      BBC Learning English

      Videos and listening practice for learners.

      bbc.co.uk/learningenglish

      Write & Improve (Cambridge)

      Practice writing with feedback.

      writeandimprove.com

      You can understand more complex ideas and communicate more fluently.

      Focus Areas

      Academic vocabulary, essay and paragraph writing, listening to natural speech.

      Breaking News English

      Reading and comprehension activities.

      breakingnewsenglish.com

      Purdue OWL

      Academic grammar and writing help.

      owl.purdue.edu

      Grammarly (Free Version)

      Writing support and correction.

      grammarly.com

      YouGlish

      Hear real pronunciation in videos.

      youglish.com

      You can use English confidently in academic and professional settings.

      Focus Areas

      Advanced writing, formal communication, understanding lectures and presentations.

      TED Talks with Subtitles

      Practice listening to academic topics.

      ted.com/talks

      Hemingway Editor

      Improve clarity and style in writing.

      hemingwayapp.com

      Rachel's English

      Advanced pronunciation and fluency.

      rachelsenglish.com

      Cambridge Vocabulary Practice

      Higher-level vocabulary development.

      cambridgeenglish.org

      You can understand and communicate at a near-native level.

      Focus Areas

      Professional writing, deep reading comprehension, specialized vocabulary.

      Project Gutenberg

      Practice reading advanced texts.

      gutenberg.org

      Forvo Pronunciation Dictionary

      Confirm pronunciation of difficult words.

      forvo.com

      Purdue OWL (Advanced Writing)

      Advanced academic and professional writing guidance.

      owl.purdue.edu

      Need Help or Not Sure Where to Start?

      If you feel unsure about your level or which resources to choose, start with the ESL Student FAQ or your Saylor ESL course. You are not alone — we are here to support your learning journey.

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